Door for washing machne and method for manufacturing the same

Abstract

Door 30 for a washing machine including a body 31 designed to open/close an opening 12 a for introducing laundry into a tub 11 a, a transparent part 31 a formed at least a part of the body 31 for having a view of an inside of the tub 11 a, and a first layer 33 of a hydrophilic material on an inside surface of the transparent part 31 a.

1 . A door for a washing machine comprising: 
 a body designed to open/close an opening for introducing laundry into a tub;    a transparent part formed at least a part of the body for having a view of an inside of the tub; and    a first layer of a hydrophilic material on an inside surface of the transparent part.    
     
     
         2 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body is transparent, entirely.  
     
     
         3 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the body and the transparent part are formed of ABS resin or PC resin.  
     
     
         4 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a coated layer formed by coating a liquid hydrophilic material.  
     
     
         5 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is a film layer formed by attaching a film of a hydrophilic material.  
     
     
         6 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first layer is formed of cross-linked polyurethane.  
     
     
         7 . The door as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a second layer of a high hardness material on an outside of the transparent part.  
     
     
         8 . The door as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second layer is a coated layer formed by coating a liquid high hardness material.  
     
     
         9 . The door as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second layer is a film layer formed by attaching a film of a high hardness material.  
     
     
         10 . The door as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the second layer is formed of cross-linked polyurethane.  
     
     
         11 . A method for fabricating a door for a washing machine, comprising the steps of: 
 forming a body of a door to include a transparent part, at least partly;    washing the transparent part; and    forming a first layer of a hydrophilic material on an inside surface of the transparent part.    
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the body and the transparent part are formed by injection molding of a plastic.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein the body and the transparent part are formed of ABS resin or PC resin.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of washing includes the step of washing the transparent part with a wash liquid.  
     
     
         15 . The method as claimed in  claim 14 , further comprising the step of drying the transparent part for a predetermined time period after the step of washing.  
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of washing includes the step of blowing compressed air to the transparent part.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of forming a first layer includes the step of coating a liquid hydrophilic material on the transparent part.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the step of coating includes; 
 the step of spraying the hydrophilic material onto the transparent part, or    the step of dipping the transparent part into the hydrophilic material.    
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 17 , further comprising the step of drying the transparent part after the step of coating.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the transparent part is dried in a room at a room temperature for at least 24 hours.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the step of forming a first layer includes the step of attaching a film of hydrophilic material to the transparent part.  
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the first layer is formed of cross-linked polyurethane.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 11 , further comprising the step of forming a second layer of a high hardness material on an outside of the transparent part after the step of washing.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the step of forming a second layer includes the step of coating a liquid high hardness material on the transparent part.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 24 , further comprising the step of drying the transparent part after the step of coating.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the step of forming a second layer includes the step of attaching a film of a high hardness material to the transparent part.  
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 23 , wherein the second layer is formed of cross-linked polyurethane.  
     
     
         28 . A washing machine comprising; 
 a housing;    a tub mounted in the housing rotatable by predetermined power means for washing laundry; and    a door including a body for opening/closing an opening in the housing so as to be in communication with the tub, a transparent part formed at least a part of the body for having a view of an inside of the tub, and a first layer of a hydrophilic material on an inside surface of the transparent part.    
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first layer is a coated layer formed by coating a liquid hydrophilic material.  
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first layer is a film layer formed by attaching a film of a hydrophilic material.  
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 28 , further comprising a second layer of a high hardness material on an outside of the transparent part.  
     
     
         32 . The door as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the second layer is a coated layer formed by coating a liquid high hardness material.  
     
     
         33 . The door as claimed in  claim 31 , wherein the second layer is a film layer formed by attaching a film of a high hardness material.  
     
     
         34 . The door as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the first or second layer is formed of cross-linked polyurethane.  
     
     
         35 . A door for a washing machine fabricated by the steps of: 
 forming a body of a door to include a transparent part, at least partly;    washing the transparent part; and    forming a first layer of a hydrophilic material on an inside surface of the transparent part, and forming a second layer of a high hardness material on an outside surface of the transparent part.    
     
     
         36 . The door as claimed in  claim 35 , wherein the step of forming a first layer and a second layer includes the step of coating a liquid hydrophilic material and a high hardness material to an inside and an outside of the transparent part respectively, or the step of attaching a film of a hydrophilic material and a film of a high hardness material to the inside and the outside of the transparent part respectively.  
     
     
         37 . The door as claimed in  claim 36 , wherein the hydrophilic material and the high hardness material are cross-linked polyurethane.